Posted by Blogike on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 @ 06:42 PM
View our recent webinar on the integration of ikeGPS and PLS-POLE!
Power Line Systems, Inc. (PLSi) and ikeGPS™ have collaborated to develop ikeAnnotate PLS that is specifically designed for users of PLS-POLE™ software. ikeGPS™ is an all-in-one handheld GIS data capture device that combines GPS, laser range finder, 3D compass, and digital camera.
For Pole Audits, this unique device enables the quick and accurate location and measurement of attachments, heights and distances of a pole. This is done from a single image that can be captured from a safe distance by a single person. The device provides geo-tagged images of targets that can be accurately measured. ikeGPS™ is now compatible with PLSi’s PLS-POLE™ software, the industry standard for utility pole analysis and design – which means that building PLS-POLE™ structures is now automated and as simple as marking up a photograph on a screen.
Learn how ikeAnnotate PLS works with PLS-POLE™ software. Your hosts, Leon Toorenberg, CTO of Surveylab, and James Cooney, Software Architect, present an overview of the integration with example workflows and data. Also joining us are Otto Lynch from Power Line Systems and Peter Dulhunty from Dulhunty Power to provide further detail and help answer questions.
Posted by Blogike on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 @ 07:00 AM
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During 2011 we were proud to announce a whole new wave of exciting capabilities for the ikeGPS product line. Our flagship mobile GIS system, the ike1000 product line, which includes the ike300 and ike100 models, now features the ability to capture, locate and measure multiple remote objects from a safe location. With available data management and measurement software, the ike1000 products are leading the way in a variety of industry applications, including utilities and telecommunications pole audits and vegetation management, local government asset management and regulatory enforcement, military engineering and a variety of energy industry uses. In addition to the new capabilities, the ike1000 products also features significant improvements to GPS and laser range finder accuracy and the onboard high resolution camera compared to older models.
 In addition to being able to capture the target location and an image of a remote object, the ike1000 products have several new data capture modes that expand its use and value.
- True Size: calibrated photo capture with related GPS information that allows you to measure overall height, attachment heights, and surface areas!
- Span Height: Measure the height above the ground of an object, for example the mid-span height of a utility line
- 3-Shot Height: Measure the height of a vertical object, even when the base of the target is obstructed
With the development of these exciting new mobile GIS solutions, we are no longer able to produce and support older models of ikeGPS, including models 304 and x05, and these products are being retired on March 31, 2012. Our focus going forward will be on the high performance models and applications now available from ikeGPS.
For the owners of pre-ike1000 models, we greatly appreciate your continued use of ikeGPS and would like to offer you special consideration for upgrading to the ike1000 product line and exciting new features. Please call your regional ikeGPS sales office to take advantage of special incentives for pre-ike1000 model owners. Hurry, this offer lasts only until March 31, 2012!
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Posted by Blogike on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 @ 06:51 AM
ikeGPS is pleased to announce that two excellent mobile GIS professionals have recently joined the team. Mike Darracott has come on board as a Director of Sales and Support Services in our UK office and James Cooney has joined our Wellington, New Zealand R&D team to further bolster our software engineering capabilities.
Mike Darracot
Mike now leads our efforts in Customer Service and Support across the Europe Middle East and Africa region and in further developing sales and reseller channels. Mike has an extensive background in GIS products, solutions and surveying in various roles including sales, business development and support. He has over 15 years experience including a leading GPS/GIS Reseller in the UK, Ordnance Survey UK, and a deep knowledge of the Energy & Infrastructure sectors.
James Cooney
Originally gaining a BEng in automation control from Massey University, James joins us from Robert Bosch Gmbh and Bosch Engineering in Germany where he led development of engine management software and chassis systems control. At ikeGPS James is currently involved in enhancement of the ikeOs platform and is looking forward to developing next generation platform devices, and their integration with incumbent software providers in various industries, over the coming months.
ikeGPS is the only fully integrated mobile GIS system that meets both location and measurement challenges. We are excited to be adding more leading people to our team to support our international growth.
We appreciate your interest, and your comments are always welcome.
Posted by Blogike on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 @ 08:09 AM
Does your organization need to capture data regarding distributed assets and responsibilities in the field and then use that information in mapping or asset management applications?
If the answer is yes, then ikeGPS™ is for you. ikeGPS™ mobile GIS solutions will significantly increase the productivity of your field crews and reduce the time it takes to share the information with decision makers.
Join Carahsoft and ikeGPS Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 2PM EST, 11 AM PST for a free webinar to learn how ikeGPS™ integrates a laser range finder, digital camera, GPS, and digital compass in a single handheld device to capture GPS locations of remote targets from a single position and augment them with digital field notes, measurements, and verification images. This revolutionary device enables:
- Increased field productivity (less time and smaller crews)
- Capturing GPS based location and measuring the true sizes of objects from a safe, remote position
- Rapid transfer of data from the field to the decision maker
- Easy, onboard operator workflow for complete and accurate data capture
- Integration with GIS databases and mapping applications
This webinar will provide practical examples of best practice field data capture and the implementation of effective workflows in a variety of public sector applications.
Sign up now, or click here to register for future access to the archived recording.
Posted by Blogike on Wed, Dec 28, 2011 @ 02:26 PM
We measure a lot of industrial things with ikeGPS – utility poles, obstructions, buildings, road signs and much more, but ikeGPS can do some pretty amazing and refined things as well. Take for example the famous Rembrandt painting "The Night Watch" in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This colossal painting looks fabulous on the museum wall, but wouldn’t you like to know exactly how big it is? With ikeGPS, you don’t have to take someone’s word for it.
Fortunately, they let you take pictures of the art in the Rijksmuseum, so we start by capturing a photo of the painting from a distance of several metres away using ikeGPS. By selecting TrueSize image mode, and using the onboard laser range finder and 3D compass to compute the distance and angle to the target, we create a corrected photo from which direct measurements can be made. We load our TrueSize photo of the painting into ikeAnnotate on a laptop or desktop PC, and proceed to measure its width and height directly on the screen.
Let's see how we did.
Using ikeGPS, we get: 361 x 436 cm for the dimensions of The Night Watch.
The official dimensions are: 363 x 437 cm
That gives us 0.7% area accuracy.
This may seem like a trivial application for ikeGPS, but consider the situation. This is a very delicate piece of artwork that must not be touched or handled unnecessarily. To be able to obtain accurate measurements from a remote position with a single image means that an entire museum could be inventoried and documented very quickly without endangering any of the pieces. In fact, ikeGPS could be a curator’s best friend!
Consider also the potential for measuring objects from a concealed or obscured location. The ikeGPS form factor is very small (hand held), and it could be used to quickly and stealthily measure objects in a potentially dangerous or otherwise forbidden setting, for example by military personnel behind enemy lines. As you can see, the possible uses for ikeGPS are endless!
Posted by Blogike on Tue, Nov 29, 2011 @ 03:00 PM
Buy any ikeGPS hardware or software and try it for 30 days. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied you can return it for a full, "no questions asked" refund.
The following conditions apply:
- ikeGPS hardware or software” means any product available for sale at www.ikegps.com.
- Participant purchases ikeGPS hardware or software for their own use, and not for resale or re-supply or export.
- Payment in full is required before any product is shipped to the Participant.
- Freight terms are Carriage and Insurance Paid (CIP) to receiver, Local/International sales tax/duties may apply.
- Refund requests for products purchased online via the ikeGPS store or through the ikeGPS direct sales team must be made via email to sales@ikegps.com within 30 days of product receipt date as shown on a digitized proof of delivery along with digitized copies of the invoice and proof of payment. Surveylab will provide goods return documentation and arrange for a courier to collect the originally supplied ikeGPS product. Once validated Surveylab will refund the Participant in full for the total purchase price of the product returned. The cost of any items missing from the returned goods will be deducted from the refund.
- Refund requests for products purchased through official ikeGPS resellers must be submitted directly to the ikeGPS reseller from which the products were purchased. All transactions, terms and arrangements for shipping and refunds must be made with the ikeGPS reseller from which the products were purchased.
- The returning product can only be picked up from the Participant's physical address – courier collection cannot be made from Post Office or other mail delivery service private boxes.
- Refund payments for products purchased online via the ikeGPS store or through the ikeGPS direct sales team will be made by electronic bank transfer within 45 days after receipt of the return product to Surveylab’s headquarters.
- Surveylab shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered (including, without limitation, indirect, consequential or economic loss), or for a personal injury suffered or sustained, as a result of participation in this Promotion, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law.
- Surveylab’s decision on all matters pertaining to this Promotion is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into, except as otherwise stated in these terms and conditions.
If you have any questions, please contact your regional ikeGPS sales office.
Posted by Blogike on Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 03:45 PM
We recently re-furbished and extended corporate headquarters and manufacturing space in Wellington, New Zealand. Thanks to our success in 2011, we’ve added talented staff and greatly increased demand for our ikeGPS mobile GIS products. As a result we’ve needed more space to grow and a better environment for employees to work in and customers to visit.
Our exciting new office and manufacturing plant now features:
- 100% increase in manufacturing capacity for ikeGPS hardware and software;
- New, spacious test facilities for Quality Assurance;
- An extended workshop for mechanical R&D;
- Vastly improved work and play environment, complete with a dedicated table football (soccer) zone;
- A new roof enabling us to hear ourselves think when it rains!
- A cool product display area exhibiting the company’s history and ikeGPS evolution.
"We are pleased to take this next step in our growth as a company and to meet the increasing demands for ikeGPS products." said CEO, Glenn Milnes. "We thank our staff for their patience and flexibility in our previous office space, but now they should enjoy a much improved place to think, collaborate and deliver ikeGPS solutions to the global marketplace."
ikeGPS also has offices in Houston, Texas and Winchester, United Kingdom. We also have a network of Partners around the world. If you are interested in joining our Partner network, please contact us today.
Posted by Phil Drummond on Sun, Nov 13, 2011 @ 07:17 PM
ikeGPS announces the release of ikeOS v4.7.0 for our ike1000, ike300 and ike100 users.
This version of ikeOS improves the robustness of the user interface when switching data capture modes.
Key features of v4.7.0 are:
ikeCapture Modes: Tapping the ikeCapture Mode indicator will show the list of available data capture modes. This allows quick switching between capture modes. More details on data capture modes is available in Chapter 8 of the ikeGPS User Guide.
ikeCapture Output: Output data files are now prefixed to indicate the data capture mode used.
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Photo Only = pic (csv, jpg & XML)
pic_[yyyyMMdd].csv
pic_[serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].jpg
pic_[serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].xml
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Target Positon = tgt (csv, kml, jpg, & XML)
tgt_[yyyyMMdd].csv
tgt_[yyyyMMdd].kml
tgt_[serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].jpg
tgt_[serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].xml
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Span Height = sph (csv, kml, jpg, & XML)
sph_[yyyyMMdd].csv
sph [yyyyMMdd].kml
sph [serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].jpg
sph [serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].xml
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TrueSize = tru (csv, kml, jpg, & XML)
tru_[yyyyMMdd].csv
tru_[yyyyMMdd].kml
tru_[serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].jpg
tru_[serial number]_[yyyyMMdd]_[hhmmss].xml
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Additional details of output data file structure is available in Appendix A (ikeCapture CSV Metadata) of the ikeGPS User Guide.
ikeOS v4.7.0 is available for download via the ikeGPS Support Download ikeOS form.
Note: Updating ikeOS requires a factory reset with all data and other applications being deleted from the ikeGPS unit (including ikePad and the ikeCapture Extension for ArcPad). Should you have any important data stored on your ikeGPS unit please ensure this data is backed up prior to installing this update. If you have any additional applications installed, please reinstall and re-register these following the completion of the ikeOS update. Further information is included in “iketip - Install or Re-install ikeOS on ike100/300/1000” or the ikeGPS User Manual.
NOTE FOR USERS OF IKEPAD/IKECAPTURE EXTENSION FOR ARCPAD:
Please also be aware, if you are a user of ikePad (or the ikeCapture Extension for ArcPad), we recommend that you also update to v1.0.7 of the ikeCapture Extension for ArcPad software.
ikeCapture Extension for ArcPad v1.0.7
The ikePad/ArcPad ikeCapture Extension toolbar forms the bridge between ArcPad & ikeCapture. This allows data captured in ikeCapture to be stored in feature-rich, customizable ArcPad point, line or polygon layers.
Additional documentation for ikePad/ikeCapture Extension can be found in the ikeCapture Extension User Guide.
As ikePad/ikeCapture Extension is commercial software, the update to ikeCapture Extension v1.0.7 requires confirmation of original purchase (and warranty eligibility) from Surveylab or a recognized ikeGPS reseller. If you require the update to ikeCapture Extension v1.0.7 please complete the Software Request form. Once your eligibility is confirmed you will be forwarded links to direct download the ikeCapture Extension v1.0.7 material.
Notes:
1) ikeCapture Extension v1.0.7 is applicable only to ike100/300/1000 ikeGPS models running ikeOS v4.5.4 or later. ikeCapture Extension v1.0.6 should be used for versions of ikeOS earlier than ikeOS v4.5.4.
2) Updating ikeCapture Extension requires a factory reset and reinstallation of the ikeOS & ikeCapture Extension software. Refer to the notes above in regards to the ikeOS v4.6.0 release for details on downloading and installing the ikeOS v4.6.0 software.
Should you have any questions about this software release or any features of your ikeGPS mobile GIS system, please contact your ikeGPS reseller directly or alternatively complete our Support Request form.
(Please note that responses to Support Requests from reseller customers may be copied to the original reseller.)
Posted by Tim Clark on Wed, Oct 26, 2011 @ 08:20 AM
As part of our ikeGPS software suite we have an High Accuracy GPS option, hence our fancy acronym HAGO. I have seen many heated debates break out when people start discussing the details and nuances of what and how GPS works, especially when it comes to accuracy. The technical details can be quite complex, so I won’t address them in detail in this post, but what I will do is discuss how high accuracy can greatly impact your mobile GIS data collection results.
In the chart above, the dots are all from a single set of GPS data collection points measured with an ikeGPS mobile GIS device, but one set with HAGO (Blue) software applied and the other without HAGO (Red). Out of the box (without HAGO) ikeGPS is very robust and accurate. But if you want more accuracy, this is where HAGO comes in. HAGO will level out the position errors of your GPS data by using a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS). This is a real time system that supports wide-area or regional augmentation through the use of additional satellite-broadcast messages. The graph below also illustrates this. As we move from left to right as time increases, HAGO errors drop off, while non-HAGO errors increase and become less stable.
The chart below is the same data as the first chart but with directional averaging and a mean average applied to the points measured with HAGO and without HAGP. This simplified view illustrates the overall improved accuracy of using HAGO software in GPS data collection.
Advantages of HAGO
- Software only, factory install or upgrade to all ike1000 Series devices
- No active control or input necessary from the user
- Provides sub-meter (CEP) accuracy for GPS measurements
If this sub-meter data and accuracy is still not up to par for you, contact ikeGPS support. We have some additional “SUPER” HAGO options available. They are not as simple as a software update like HAGO but involve some hardware add-ons. We will be discussing some of these advanced GPS options, like RTK, very soon.
Posted by Blogike on Thu, Oct 20, 2011 @ 04:48 PM
Compass calibration is important to keep your ike in top form. Overtime metallic parts inevitably become magnetized to some degree. These magnetized parts can impact the accuracy of the ike digital compass. This walkthrough will explain step-by-step how one performs the calibration. We recommend you do this often especially when traveling. Give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions.